iOS 7 and Audiobook Chapters

@/LaChouffe

Tracknumber are for sorting multiparted m4b-audiobooks. B.e. A 40 hours audiobook has to split. To be compatible with older players respect a 12 hours limit. In this case i have track 1/4 up to 4/4, for playing audiobook in right order. On single Part audiobooks the tracknumber isn't important and can be cleared.

Example on AudioMark https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audiomark/id320694795 Version 3.19.9. Version 4.0 are iOS 7 only. It was shortly in store and now not available.

- Audiobooks (M4B) source

1. Buyed it at iTunes store

2. Build by myself using AudioBook Builder (indivudial chaptermark names)

- Both (types) imported to iTunes

- Transfer them to iDevices using iTunes

Cuted NON-DRM-M4B example:

http://www.filefactory.com/file/6p4sk2bt9z5h/01_Das_verlorene_Labyrinth_-_Die_Ci te_-_Auf_dem_Berge.m4b

http://i40.tinypic.com/2i1cadz.jpg

[IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/33z89e0.jpg[/IMG]

Please compare to Apple

On iOS 4.2.1

Recognize the List-Button on the upper right corner

- http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/7254/2883.png

- http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/2740/iwi0.png

On iOS 6.1.3

Recognize the List-Button on the upper right corner

- http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5773/qrf2.png

- http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/3684/ex9w.png

On iOS 7

- http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4844/382s.jpg

On iTunes in Menu "Chapters" the list of marks with defined titles are shown

- http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/9726/x4lj.png

On QuickTime Player the list with defined titles shown using the chapter-menu at the lower right corner of the player window near the share-button/menu.

- http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/910/18px.png

On QuickLook a list of covers (same counts then chapatermarks are defined) shown at the left side of the windows. Individual names not shown

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/6628/p7yy.png

I don't have a check box as you show?

The checkboxes only exists on info-dialog for muliple files?

You need to select all the audio files and then press cmd+i, then you will see the checkboxes.

Not that I've found. I can use the Audible app to play my Audible books but only if they are downloaded through the app and not played from iTunes sync. I really prefer to manage my Audible books through iTunes and sync with my computer since I have both an iPhone and iPad so keeping track of what I've listened to via iTunes works much better than having to download to each device as well as my computer for back-up since there is no way I can store all my audio on a phone or ipad.

Try AudioMark after it is available again.https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audiomark/id320694795

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audiomark/id320694795Version 3.19.9 for iOS 6.x. Version 4.1 are iOS 7 only. I cantact the author of the program, very well, fast response and interest in ideas to make AudioMark better.

🙂 Individual chapternames

🙂 Work also with Audible (chapter-base art-work will not work for audible, but audible audiobooks haven't them)

I’m back to let you know my iPhone app: Bookmobile Audiobook and Podcast Player, which was just released as v4.0 into the App Store.

Most people that try it love it -- including several that have contacted me from this thread -- so with this release I made it free for 3 audiobooks/podcasts with an in-app purchase of $2.99 for unlimited audiobooks or podcasts ($3.99 for both). Previously, it had an up-front price of $2.99.

It solves a lot of the problems people have been complaining about with Apple's Music Player, plus it does a whole lot more.

You can read about it here: http://bookmobileapp.com

or, give it a try here:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bookmobile-audiobook-podcast/id416457527?mt=8

Thanks.

-Duke

Duke, I purchased 1 audiobook from iTunes and a few directly from Audible. In your app, when I click "Add Audiobook" it only shows the audiobook I purchased from iTunes. How would I play the ones I purchased from Audible?

Forgive me if you've already addressed these issues but in the audiobook I purchased from iTunes, your app isn't dividing it into individual chapters which I take was the subject matter of this thread. Did you say your app allows to see chapters? Also, I see the 5 sec and 30 sec skip buttons but I didn't see a chapter skip button, does it exist? Also, is there a position scrubber?

Audible audiobooks need to be synced to your phone using iTunes on your computer (download from Audible onto your computer first, then sync your device).

In most cases, you can't see the chapters of DRM audio (from iTunes/Audible). There is a "loophole" that can occur if you purchase/download iTunes audiobooks directly on your device (and not sync). In that case, the chapter information is often exposed publicly (I don't know if this is a bug/oversight on Apple's part or it's intended), and Bookmobile will show the chapter info. The chapter info is usually embedded in the audio file for DRM audio, there is just no way to access it in a manner that Apple allows for apps on the App Store. It's not a technical limitation, it's a corporate policy limitation.

You can skip between chapters/parts by swiping the audiobook's title on the main display. You can also double tap on the title to get to a list of parts/chapters, and tap the one you want to go to.

Scrubbers are very difficult to manage on long audio content, and Bookmobile does not have any. If you tap the center button "clock" it switches to 5/30 minute mode, so you can jump large distances within a book. The 5/30 values can be changed in the user preferences.

You might want to check out the FAQ/Support/Instructions: http://bookmobileapp/support.html

Thanks for the questions/feedback, and for trying Bookmobile.

-Duke

Duke, I transferred the audiobook I bought from Audible by doing what you said above. Your app can read the audiobook fine, but again the beef that started this entire thread, chapter information, is missing. Upon double clicking the title on the main display, no chapters display, only the book title.

I like your app's interface and your enthusiasm but quite honestly I don't think your app addresses what people have been complaining about here and that is chapters. If your app can't see the chapters on audiobooks bought from iTunes or from Audible, I honestly think people are better off using Apple's Music app for iTunes books or the Audible app for Audible books. The Audible app shows chapters no problem with audiobooks purchased from Audible. With audiobooks purchased from iTunes, the Music app can at least skip from chapter to chapter. Your app cannot do either because it can't even recognize the chapters to begin with. Although your app can play audiobooks fine without the chapters, there are alot of free audiobook apps that do the same.

The missing chapters is the number 1 issue but here are some other minor things for you to consider if you come up with any update: I think your app should've at least had a position scrubber especially because it doesn't show chapters and some books are too long to be using the 30 min skip (some books are over 6 hours long). Also, the Play/Pause button is sometimes slow to respond.

Anyway, the missing chapters is not your fault but if you come up with any update in the future feel free to post.

Thanks for this info dieterfi. I've tried it on my iPad running 7.0.3 and my chapters are all there - m4b created by Audiobook Builder and loaded via iTunes. After I've used it for a while to check it out thoroughly, I may even be able to update my iPhone from iOS6.

Yes, I agree, chapter information should be provided by Apple, and it would make things better.

However, many people on this thread have said that without chapters, there is no way to navigate through an audiobook. Bookmobile solves (or at least significantly improves on) that in a number of ways:

- you can skip forward/backward by fixed amounts, up to 99 minutes at a time,

- you can swipe-between/jump-to whatever segmentation is available (files, parts, episodes, chapters, etc.),

- the app remembers your place in the audiobook across books/restarts/backgrounding/etc.

- you can easily create a bookmark (and customize it to be a chapter marker if you desire),

- a bookmark history is created that lets you navigate to (or very close to) any place you've previously played.

Specific chapter information is generally not that important, but navigation is. In 99% of the time, you listen through an audiobook, and you just want to continue where you left off. There might be times you want to return to a specific location in a book, but that is not necessarily at a chapter location. What you really need is a way to easily and consistently navigate through a book, and that's what I've provided with Bookmobile.

I doubt chapter information is coming from Apple anytime soon. Like I said previously, it's a corporate policy issue, and I suspect something to do with an agreement between Apple and Audible (which provides the iTunes audiobooks). It would be better if/when chapter info becomes available, but things aren't that bad without it.

The missing chapter info is just an issue with DRM-protected audio. M4B audiobooks with chapter information are handled well with Bookmobile.

I've listened to hundreds and hundreds of audiobooks -- I do it every day. I initially wrote this app for myself because I listened to so many audiobooks, and knew ways to make the experience much better. I've gotten, and continue to get, a lot of great ideas from people that use the app, and it gets better with each release.

I think the Apple Music app is terrible for audiobooks, with or without chapter info. Audible continues to improve their app, and if it works for you, great. I think Bookmobile is better, but that's my very biased opinion.

-Duke

Regarding Audible audiobooks that have been synced to iPhone using iTunes:

"You can skip between chapters/parts by swiping the audiobook's title on the main display. You can also double tap on the title to get to a list of parts/chapters, and tap the one you want to go to."

Completely incorrect! Does not happen. Get your facts straight.